Iris boat/barge tour reviews — 1 to 30 of 114

4.7 out of 5

 


Susan W.
3 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Metz to Cochem

We have so many great memories of our trip that it is hard to pin down an "absolute favorite". Here are some of our best and most favorites memories, in no particular order of importance! The staff was so welcoming and helpful, we felt connected to all of them right from the start! The bike riding was fantastic--the ease of the e bikes, to the scenery, and then the visits at the historical sites such as the Roman mosaic, the Puerta Nigra, and the bunker from WWI in the farmer's field, we thought we had the best guides and were very well informed about the details of our day. Our accommodations aboard the Iris were comfortable, clean and well maintained. The other passengers were a lot of fun, and we felt comfortable spending time with each group. I cannot say enough about the food! We all looked forward to our excellent dinner after a long day of cycling, and the breakfasts were filling and tasty, every time! One day, after a 35-mile ride, some of the other passengers decided to continue for another 12 miles, but many of us chose to stay on the barge. The captain welcomed us into the wheelhouse and we were educated on how to operate the barge while going through a lock and dam!

Countries included in this tour?
France, Luxembourg, Germany

Joyce N.
3 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Metz to Cochem

The little towns like the v one pictured above. Use deutsch bank ATM to exchange for euros

Countries included in this tour?
France, Luxembourg, Germany

Alex & Sandra B.
3 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Aschaffenburg to Cochem

This was our 8th bike & boat tour with Tripsite and once again it was an outstanding trip. It's difficult to pick a favorite since each one has it's own highlights and we always love to embrace the differences but this one really excelled in every category.

The route - A perfect mix of paved dedicated trails along the 3 rivers, winding streets through classic little medieval towns and a few stretches though bustling cities like Frankfurt. We probably went through a few more small towns and villages than on some of our other trips which was a real plus. We generally had time to stop and look around and sample some local goodies. A highlight was riding through the woods surrounding the Frankfurt airport and stopping to visit the Zeppelin Museum, fascinating history and a lot of exhibits focusing on the Hindenburg. We averaged 26 miles a day on generally level paths. We opted for the e-bikes - we could have done OK without them but when we hit a bit of a climb at the end of the day it was pretty nice to be able to get a little boost. Every night we were docked close enough to the center of town that we were able to take a walk after dinner and get some local flavor - this is one of the things that we like the best about these trips.

The boat - The Iris may not look too fancy from the outside but once inside we were blown away with the way she has been updated and renovated from her days as a cargo ship. The decor and appointments are first class, the cabins are roomy with comfortable beds and well equipped bathrooms, dining area is well laid out, and the front lounge is a cozy place to enjoy a beverage from the self service bar.

The people - The crew and guests are always key to a successful trip and we had a superb group. Our captains, mate and host (Dick & Adrienne, Mark & Anna) did a fantastic job with the day to day operations and made sure that all of our needs were met. Our chef Berber served up amazing meals every day with creative combinations of fresh ingredients that were quite welcome after a long day on the trail. Our guides Ferry and Treasa did a great job of planning the days journey and managing our fairly large group of 23 bikers. The pace and route needed to be adjusted a few times due to weather and construction but at the end of the day everything went smoothly and a good time was had by all. As we have experienced on all of our trips the guests were a fun group from varied backgrounds with the right attitude for an active vacation. Most had been on at least one bike and boat trip previously, some on the Iris as well.

A 5 star experience - we would highly recommend this trip on the Iris for both novice and experienced bikers. Excellent on every measure.

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Christopher G.
3 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Metz to Cochem

The whole trip was excellent. To many thing to choose just one.

Countries included in this tour?
France, Luxembourg, Germany

Nancy T.
4 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Metz to Cochem

So much fun! Loved all the vineyards and charming towns we rode through. Our captain, mates, chef and guides were top notch! Highly recommend this bike tour, we loved it!

Countries included in this tour?
France, Luxembourg, Germany

Joseph L.
5 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Aschaffenburg to Bamberg

Unfortunately, I tested positive for Covid 19 the evening after the first ride. Nevertheless, the trip was very enjoyable, especially because of the kind attention of the staff on the IRIS, especially our hostess, Kim. I have to say, sitting on the deck of the IRIS, cruising along the Main in Bavaria, is not such a bad way to go! I did get in two days rides at the end so also got to enjoy the biking.

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Cynthia H.
5 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Aschaffenburg to Bamberg

Riding through the grapevine vineyards.
Riding through the forest in aschaffenburg.
Riding into the little towns

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Sarah B.
5 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Aschaffenburg to Bamberg

We had the opportunity to evaluate the Iris so don’t have anything to add

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Barbara S.
5 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Aschaffenburg to Bamberg

The Wow factor was everywhere.
Gourmet Vegetarian options at every meal. Old towns, palaces, castles & beergardens. The pristine bike paths along rosy vineyards. Most memorable -probably singing after sunset on the boat deck with John & Felix playing guitars. Yet the picnic along the river and the wine tasting were highlights too. Loved this bucket list experience!

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Lori B.
5 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Aschaffenburg to Bamberg

Our cycling guides were fantastic, so knowledgeable and so easy to be with. The crew on the Iris was also wonderful and so easily accommodated everyone’s individual needs.

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Gordon L.
7 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Heidelberg to Cochem

This was an amazing trip on so many levels! Perhaps the best aspect of it was that it was very personal, including a small intimate group of people where everyone had the opportunity to connect both with each other and also with the open and welcoming staff on board - Alice, our host & all the crew - Stefan, Captain Dick & First Mate, Adriane, not to mention Chef Joost and our guides Thomas and Treasa. I believe this is a selling point for your marketing team. The next thing worthy of mention would be the attention to detail provided by your staff on the boat. Everything was as close to perfect as you can get - our rooms, meal service, and programming. And topping that list would be the food prepared by chef, Joost. It tasted and was presented at a 5 star level, leaving no one disappointed including anyone with food allergies/preferences. In fact, for people with food issues the staff went above and beyond to ensure satisfaction. Our host, Alice, made particular arrangements for my wife to have everything she needed including special daytime snacks while riding. Last but not least was the daytime programming. The guides, Thomas and Treasa, were outstanding, to say the very least. Their skills and abilities complimented each other and meant that every rider’s needs were always addressed with ease. The two of them worked as a team as we cycled the incredible German landscape making our way through cities, towns and countryside along the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Their knowledge of the local history and the importance of each place including churches and castles (ABC’s), museums, wineries and monuments was exceptional. It went beyond the surface layer providing important detail and significance within the larger history of Germany. We could not have asked for a better trip. Thank you to all who made our particular cycle voyage so memorable, so special. These memories will be cherished… Gord & Mo

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

alison a.
7 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Heidelberg to Cochem

Great trip, castles galore, our guides leading us into medieval towns, palaces, gardens.
Easy biking and having two guides meant both faster and slower bikers catered for.
Iris barge conversion provided both indoor and outside lounge areas perfect for after bike social time.
Fantastic food. Thankyou chef.

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

monica Susan B.
7 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Heidelberg to Cochem

The staff was amazing Tereasa with all her knowledge of the historical information of the area , the chef Joust with his amazing menu
The crew and captain making us so welcome on board and Thomas leadership through hill and dail.
This made the days so good.

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Susan S.
7 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Heidelberg to Cochem

The staff and guides were very committed to everyone having a good time. Although the weather posed some problems for us, the guides pivoted quickly to make sure each day had something special to offer.

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Anat P.
7 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Heidelberg to Cochem

Great overall experience
The Ship and crew were great, the bike guides were very professional.
We loved the wine tasting evening
One tip, it is a good idea to practice one’s bike before the trip.

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Avner G.
7 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Heidelberg to Cochem

This has been a great tour!
From the choice of route, the warm wellcoming boat & bike staff, the size of the group just everything.
Highly recccomended.

Countries included in this tour?
Germany

Barbara L.
8 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Authentic Holland

The entire trip was memorable in every way. There was really nothing that I could improve upon other than perhaps the weather, which is not controllable. The staff the boat and the itinerary were incredible. I particularly liked the Museum visit to the Kröller-Müller Museum which is otherwise not very accessible on the regular tourist itinerary.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Thomas S.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

I really enjoyed the Iris barge. First class barge with an attentive crew. The chef was amazing and created very good meals from a small onboard kitchen. The two guides were first-class. Great cycling routes in rural Netherlands. Lots of interesting stops and tulips galore. I would definitely book another tour aboard the Iris

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Theresa D.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

Great itinerary and biking. Often guides offered options of a short or a long bike ride. A lot of wind to contend with so an e-bike may be an added comfort for some. The Iris was exceptionally clean, apparently newly renovated during Covid. A high quality of rental bikes available and appreciated! Thanks for a great holiday!!

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Donald K.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

The staff on the Iris were excellent. They went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. The passenger capacity of the Iris (24 people) was just right. It afforded us the opportunity to get to know the other travelers. Although the cabins were small, they were well laid out; comfortable; and quiet. We thoroughly enjoyed cycling throughout the Netherlands with the exceptional guides on the Iris.
We would've preferred more time allocated to exploring the towns where the Iris moored daily. Most of our exploration time was limited to after dinner walks in some towns.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Thomas J.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

I really enjoyed the trip, especially being able to ride a bike throughout Holland and see all the flowers and small towns.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Katia L.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

The whole trip was a beautiful experience full of memorable biking moments, new friendships and an attentive and talented staff. The best part of the trip was the attentiveness of the staff who met our various needs throughout the trip. I can't say enough about our tour guides and barge staff who always took the time to hear our concerns and or special needs and do their best to meet them. By the end of the trip, The Iris was our home and it always felt good to return back to our barge after a successfull and beautiful day of biking throughout the countryside. So with that being said, the trip is beautiful, but the staff made it special.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Cheryl S.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

The beauty of the countryside and beautiful homes along the canals. I especially loved learning about heirloom tulips and the interesting facts about the Dutch people and their country. I loved all beautiful the cycling but only wish we had a little more time at the end of the day to explore the little towns while the shops were still open.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Donna H.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

Beautiful country and biking was great unfortunately we didn't have great weather. Can’t forget the beautiful tuplips.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Maureen K.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

The guides were very good. Felix and Hetty made every bit of the trip fondly memorable. The Iris offered very nice accommodations—featuring lots of room between the beds, plenty of space to store clothing, and a lovely shower and toilet room. The other staff of the Iris were very good, too, and we enjoyed excellent meals and everything went smoothly. I went on this trip to see the tulips, and they were gorgeous—not just at the Keukenhof, but also at the visit to the bulb garden and along the way just looking at private farms.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Nancy H.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

The trip was fantastic. Just the right amount of cycling traveling through the beautiful Netherlands. It was great to have 2 guides to split up our group of 24. Both guides were knowledgeable and fun. The captain, crew and chef were excellent. The Isis was a comfortable boat and I would definitely sail on it again. I highly recommend this trip to others.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Rosemary T.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

Every aspect of the trip was memorable, from biking through quaint towns and beautiful countryside to an outstanding staff and five star cuisine. Be prepared to be amazed.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Susan L.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

It was a wonderful Trip. We rode the bikes evern though it was rainy and windy. It is amazing that you would do in that kind of weather, but we did, dressed warm and we loved it. We also had good weather days, when we saw the tulips and the gardens. It is amazing how many bikes are in the area. The roads are divided into one lane for the cars and a bike lane on each side of the road. Usually we biked on a paved path all the way. It was a great trip!!!!!

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Penelope K.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

Experiencing the unique geography and history of the Netherlands and getting to sample a tange of small towns and then Amsterdam. We also enjoyed the excellent range of art and historical museums and then of course since this was the tulip tour we really appreciated biking by miles of tulip beds and seeing Keukenhof garden, truly a national treasure. Tips for others biking and in April: Bring waterproof cycling gloves, a warm layer, and rain gear. We found the electric bikes were very in dealing with headwinds which of course can be strong by the sea.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands

Gail C.
9 months ago

Verified Reviewer

· Tulip Tour - 8 day

Weather! Gale force winds, rain/hail and cold. Bring warm clothes and rain gear. Tulip fields were amazing.

Countries included in this tour?
Netherlands